From Our Correspondent
TURA: In what can be termed as an unpardonable act of breach of trust, a middle-aged man raped a thirteen-year-old girl brought from Karbi Anglong in Assam to look after his granddaughter by his son-in-law on March 26, 2013 at Megonggre on the outskirts of Tura.
The accused Edmund Ch Momin on March 26 allegedly called his wife to send the maid to collect groceries and then took the thirteen-year-old girl on his bike to an under construction building at Megonggre and committed the heinous crime.
Informing this, relatives of the victim stated that the accused had threatened the girl of dire consequences if she reported the incident to anyone.
This heinous crime would not have been reported if a District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) of the District Child Protection Unit had not reported it to West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi who promptly directed the Police to investigate and lodge an FIR against the accused.
The DCPO reported that the victim was a relative brought by the son-in-law of the accused from Karbi Anglong to study and look after their children. The report allegedly stated that the victim had been habitually assaulted since February last year. The report also stated that the clan of the accused was trying to compromise with the victim and her relatives.
The accused after committing the crime had reportedly fled to Daram in North Garo Hills and stayed there for two weeks before being taken in to custody by the police. The victim is currently under medical supervision.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner expressed surprise over the fact that some Maharis or clansmen were trying to influence the case.
“Maharis are putting pressure on the District Child Protection Officer to withdraw the case which is unacceptable,” he said, while adding that the district administration would ask the police to book the Maharis if they continued to interfere in the case.
Condemnation of rising rape cases
The District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) on Crimes against women in its review meeting on Tuesday condemned the recent and growing atrocities on women especially minors.
Taking a follow up of cases of crime against women, Chairman, DLCC on Crimes against women and West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said that while affirmative and proactive measures need to be taken by the government and the society, serious offensive cases like rape should not be under the power of Nokmaship who take recourse to ‘compromise’ which has no judicial sanction.
He said that prohibitory order under Section 144 would be imposed on the jurisdiction of the Nokma in grievous crimes like rape. He also assured that child rape cases would be transferred to the Fast Track Courts.
Giving a brief report, Member of the State Commission for Women, Angela Ingty, felt the strong need to have a sensitization programme for all officers from medical and police department, members from NGOs and media while handling sensitive cases like rape.
EK Marak, DSP, West Garo Hills, informed that there was difficulty in collecting evidence in rape cases as some cases are reported late and as there are no eyewitnesses to the crime.
The meeting was attended by officials from District Social Welfare, members of Mothers’ Union, Tura, and members of various NGOs, besides members of the State Commission for Women.